Earthquakes and Seismic Waves(science)

Question 1

Earthquakes

Answer 1

The shaking and trembling that results from movement of rock beneath Earth’s surface.

Question 2

Seismic Waves

Answer 2

Vibrations that are similar to sound waves.

Question 3

Focus

Answer 3

The area beneath Earth’s surface where rock that was under stress begins to break or move.

Question 4

Epicenter

Answer 4

The point on the surface directly above the focus.

Question 5

P waves

Answer 5

Seismic waves that compress and expand the ground like an accordion.

Question 6

S waves

Answer 6

Seismic waves that can vibrate from side to side or up and down.

Question 7

Surface Waves

Answer 7

Move more slowly than P and S waves, but they can produce severe ground movements.

Question 8

Seismograph

Answer 8

An instrument that records and measures an earthquake’s seismic waves.

Question 9

Modified Mercalli scale

Answer 9

Rates the amount of shaking from an earthquake.

Question 10

Magnitude

Answer 10

A single number that geologists assign to an earthquake based on the earthquake’s size.

Question 11

Richter scale

Answer 11

Scales that are based on the earliest magnitude scale.

Question 12

Moment Magnitude scale

Answer 12

To rate the total energy an earthquake releases.